The "I WILL be debt free" diary...

ladymay

Just realised my SOA has come out all higgledy-piggledy - that's because I copy and pasted another one - couldn't find the template anywhere - d'oh!

ladymay

Alleycat wrote: »

Hurrah!! Came on specially to check and really glad I did. One big weight lifted I bet!

Aww thanks Alleycat, that's so nice!

Alleycat

Your SOA looks pretty good I think. The only spend that could be considered high(ish) is the entertainment but you don't really seem to spend much elsewhere.

Re the travel. Can you reduce this perhaps by taking the bus more if you usually use the tube or do you have access to a bike? Also (and I'm sure I'm preaching to the converted!) but as you say you're on the border of zones 2 and 3, if it's not too much of a hike, if going into zone 1 walk to a zone 2 tube station or if going the opposite way, walk to the zone 3 station. Sounds obvious but you'd be amazed!

I live in zone 2 and used to work in zone 1. Used to either cycle or walk a lot which certainly helped keep me fit!

I know you have to clear the joint account this month, do you think you will be able to manage this? If you do, then it will be gone and you will have a little more leeway in your budget as currently with that included, you don't have enough to cover all creditors.

The credit cards - are these all minimum payments? If not, lower the payments for this month to tackle the joint account. If they are min payments, then I think you'll need to have a stay at home month I'm afraid.

I think this month really needs to be about fire fighting just to get you back on an even keel. Once the joint account is clear, I'd suggest clearing the halifax CC and the money owed to a friend. That should give you a bit of a boost to tackle the rest. Whilst it's usually advisable to tackle the debts with the biggest interest first, these two are so low that it makes sense to just get rid of them quick.

You can then start snowballing properly and throw your excess at the HSBC CC as it's got the highest interest.

Try putting your details into the snowball calculator on https://www.whatsthecost.com. It will suggest what to pay off first, how much interest you'd pay and how long it would take you to clear it all.

Hovel_lady

Really pleased your wages arrived in time.

Not sure I can add anything to Alleycat's advice about your SOA.

If you are comfortable not paying MBNA for one month to pay off the joint account then do it.
You'll get charged by MBNA but it shouldn't be loads.

Happy birthday to your grandma

ladymay

Grandma had a lovely day, thank you!! Managed to get Oklahoma! for £4 so we spent the evening singing along Spent a total of £6.99 yesterday on the birthday, then today spent £4.37 on ingredients for a cake I baked for a friend of mine (April is FULL of birthdays!) who's birthday it is tomorrow, and £2.10 on a little top-up shop of essentials - butter, fruit and (ahem) hot cross buns, all of which were half price or less in Mr T's.

I think I'm going to get the O/D out of the way come what may - that's the one that's been giving me sleepless nights, so if I have to skip a payment to MBNA for a month then that's what I'll do. Although no doubt I'll start panicking about that then ha!

I also realised something today which made me feel like an utter moron: a day doesn't feel like a full day unless I've spent some money. Even if it's just a banana or pen or something (OK, the banana was probably needed!), I didn't have a single NSD in March :eek::eek::eek:

So, a plan of action is needed!

1) I'm going to get more organised so I don't have to keep buying things because I've forgotten it/ I'm hungry/ thirsty/ tired.

2) I'm going to have a NSD tomorrow. I have everything I need, and although I'm out tomorrow night it's my first cabaret gig in the new trio (I'm a singer), and lots of friends will be there so hopefully everyone will be buying my diet cokes for me!! If not, water is what I should be drinking anyway

Right, 5am wake up for work tomorrow so off to the land of nod, or at least the land of books and lying in bed...

Night x

Hovel_lady

Not a single NSD in March? :eek:

Maybe you need to join the NSD challange...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3882111

Glad Grandma had a good birthday and you found a present for her.

Hot cross buns?
Essential?
Yes

Hope the gig goes well and don't forget tomorrow is a NSD!!

ladymay

Hovel_lady wrote: »

Not a single NSD in March? :eek:

I know, shocking isn't it

BUT yesterday I did indeed have a NSD :j One of my friends bought me a cheeky glass of vino after the gig and that was me quite sozzled!! The hot cross buns were gone in 5 seconds of then appearing back stage, and the cake I baked completely disappeared after the show!! It was the pianist's birthday so I made his favourite cake (carrot cake with sultanas) and the lemon frosting was in the design of the New Zealand - he's from there - but it sort of melted on the train so we decided it was a contemporary, conceptual take on the flag Anyway everyone in the audience loved it, and the show went down really well too!! My friend video'd it, so I might even pop something up on here...

And best of all - WE MADE A PROFIT!!! In the land of theatre this is not a given by any means so I'm thrilled. As tempting as it is to take my portion out I think we're going to use it to get our domain name, do some recording etc, which will be much more useful in the long run.

Anyway, got home at midnight and was up at 5am for work so I am a zombie tonight. Going to catch up on The Apprentice and hit the hay...

Oh, spent £1 on bread because I ran out.

Night x

Hovel_lady

A NSD :T The first of many I hope

Really glad you made a profit and I think sensible to use it for your domain name etc.

Cake sounds fab

ladymay

I'm in a really !!!!!!!g bad mood so apologies in advance for the self-pity

So I've been seeing this guy for a while - five months or so - he was a friend before, and although we're not official we're pretty much together, and we've become really close. Anyhoo, he promised to come to the gig on Wednesday and he was a no-show. No apology and I haven't heard from him. I'm really disappointed because he knew how much it meant to me for him to be there, and I can't believe he hasn't even been in contact. I know I need to ask him about it, but he's at a wedding today so will call him tomorrow. I just feel really stupid.

Also, the bank keep calling me about the joint overdraft which has been stressing me out - I get paid from two of my jobs at the end of the month so it'll be gone soon. I also had a singing job fall through today - would have been two weeks as a guest performer on a ship which would have definitely helped money-wise - so all in all I'm in a bit of a grump. Not sure whether I want wine or chocolate more... Think I'll plump for the chocolate!

Sorry, needed to have a whinge and none of my friends are picking up their phones...

Only spend today was £1 on choir subs. Aiming for a NSD tomorrow - working all day in Bournemouth so need to make sure I pack enough food to last me all day - that's a lot of food!:eek: On the up-side, I haven't seen a beach in ages and I have a three hour break between my two jobs so will head down with a good book and my picnic

Think I'm going to take my chocolate and watch rubbish telly!

Hovel_lady

Sorry you're having a rubbish day :kisses3:

I'd go for the chocolate too.
Here you are...




Is that enough?

Enjoy the beach tomorrow and your picnic